Starting Thursday and going through Sunday, when the Jaguars finish their season at Tennessee, the Times-Union will examine what went wrong this season at four positions and what the future might hold. On Sunday, we preview the key decisions facing owner Shad Khan:

Their best pass rusher began the year with Philadelphia. Among the four left guards who have started a game are two undrafted rookie free agents. They didn’t have three sacks in a game until last week. And benchings and role changes because of poor performance were common.

For all the resources — draft picks, money, patience — the Jaguars have placed into building quality on the offensive and defensive lines, the results were disappointing.

The inconsistency has added right tackle, left guard and defensive tackle to the already long list of offseason needs for the Jaguars.

“This is just one of those years for everybody,” defensive end Jeremy Mincey said.

He was speaking for the defensive line, but the same is true for the offensive line. Both sides had the same problems in the same areas.

The defense couldn’t stop the run (31st), and the offense couldn’t run it (30th).

The defense couldn’t get to the quarterback (last in sacks), and the offense couldn’t protect the passer (seventh-most sacks).

And the defense couldn’t get off the field (second-most snaps played), and the offense couldn’t stay on the field (27th in snaps).

It all added up to a 2-13 record entering Sunday’s game at Tennessee.

‘THERE’LL BE CHANGE’

To start camp, the Jaguars’ projected offensive linemen were all draft picks: first-round left tackle Eugene Monroe, third-round left guard Will Rackley, fifth-round right guard Uche Nwaneri and two second-round picks — right tackle Eben Britton and center Brad Meester.

It didn’t last long.

Monroe and Meester have played every snap. Between those two players have been left guards Britton (after he replaced Rackley), Mike Brewster (undrafted), Herb Taylor (street free agent) and Austin Pasztor (undrafted).

The Jaguars will start a seventh different offensive line combination on Sunday.

“We had injuries. We had guys shuffling around — you don’t get any consistency and build those relationships when that happens,” Monroe said. “When you go through the year with the same guy, you start to develop a sense of where he’s going to be and how he executes his blocks. [Left guard] is very important to solidify.”

Left guard is a need. Rackley and rookie Drew Nowak, who was also out this year with an injury, figure to compete among the in-house candidates.

Right tackle developed into a concern during the season’s second half. Bradfield, a second-year player, started 12 of the first 14 games (he missed two weeks because of a sprained ankle). But his performance deteriorated — he allowed sacks against Indianapolis, Buffalo and Miami and struggled against bull- and speed-rush moves — although one league source questioned why the Jaguars didn’t give him more help against Mario Williams and Cameron Wake.

Bradfield, who was replaced by Guy Whimper before the New England game, also has four penalties since Week 10.

“This is a long year for a first-time starter, and he’s got to be able to hold up better and play more consistently,” coach Mike Mularkey said.

At the very least, the Jaguars want to create camp competition at left guard and right tackle. But they can’t afford experiencing another season in which the cohesion impacts the pass protection.

“The lack of continuity has held back the productivity at times,” offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski said.

Of the 43 sacks allowed, nearly 25 percent came via an unblocked pass rusher. It wasn’t because of an outnumbered situation, where the defense had more rushers than the Jaguars had blockers. Instead, opponents tested the Jaguars with delayed blitzes and inside stunts — with success.

Opponents posted sacks with a four-man rush 18 times and a five-man rush 19 times.

“You invite it when you keep having moving parts,” Mularkey said.

Earlier this week, Mularkey said of the line: “We’ve got to firm that up. That’s part of what we’ll address with the season is over with all of the positions. We just need a group in there that we can keep together.”

Said Bratkowski: “[The moves] are yet to be determined, but there’ll be change.”

LAST IN SACKS

The Jaguars have also emphasized the draft to build their defensive front.

On the roster this season were seven players they picked, including four in the top three rounds: Terrance Knighton (third, 2009), Tyson Alualu (first round, 2010), D’Anthony Smith (third, 2010) and Andre Branch (second, 2012).

Money has also been spent.

Picked 10th overall before the current rookie salary scale was implemented, Alualu has a $6.07 million cap hit next year, Mincey signed a four-year, $27.2 million contract last offseason, and the addition of Jason Babin carries a reasonable $4.325 million hit next year.

The 2012 result is 18 sacks, which is last in the NFL and allowing 100 or more yards rushing in 13 of 15 games.

“Nobody really played the first-class football they’re capable of,” Mincey said. “For whatever reason, I don’t know why, but that’s been the story of our season. Now, all we can control is the future and that’s working hard to improve.”

The Jaguars got a head start on 2013 when they claimed Babin off waivers from Philadelphia on Nov. 28.

In four games with Babin, who has 1.5 sacks and two forced fumbles, the ripple effect has been noticeable. Mincey has 19 tackles and six pressures and Alualu 19 tackles and 1.5 sacks.

“Bringing Babin in was a huge thing for us,” middle linebacker Paul Posluszny said. “You can see how things have changed. Even if he’s not getting to the quarterback, other teams scheme for him, and that opens things up.”

In addition to Babin and Mincey, the Jaguars need production from Austen Lane and particularly Branch.

The key issue is getting better at defensive tackle.

If the Jaguars stick with a 4-3 scheme in which they don’t deviate from a four-man front regardless of the sub package, it means 130 snaps per game to be divided among four or five tackles.

Knighton is a free agent, and some team will give him starter money. C.J. Mosley has started the last 10 games and shown flashes against the run.

The Jaguars have players under contract, but need plays to be made so they’re not on the field so long and have to withstand seven-, eight- or nine-minute drives.

@Daniel Plainview: And just WHY do you THINK some of the players are unhappy to be playing for the Jags? Could it be the lack of loyalty & trust that comes from incompetency in the front office? Could it be that the players realize that this team is still too CHEAP...Yes, I said it, CHEAP...to spend money on quality talented players & coaches!! Could it be that the players realize that the only way to have a successful career in the NFL is to leave the Jags & go somewhere else, you know, like McCardell, Brunell, Leftwich, & Coughlin did! Could it be that a certain running back busted his (3 letter expletive) last year to win the NFL season rushing title, only to be given the shaft by management (bunch of rule-sticklers!!) & told to honor a contract, even though they are NOTORIOUS for not honoring contracts themselves(look up David Garrard, and please dont give me that...Oh, Garrard was injured excuse! That one's played out & dead)! And finally, could it be that they have a new owner who seems to be more interested in CONNING people with his moustache & playing in London, than in spending money to make major upgrades to the talent on this team?

The biggest problem with this team is that most of the players are very unhappy to be playing for the Jaguars. Finding anyone who will enjoy playing football for the Jacksonville Jaguars is like trying to find a needle in a haystack.

The thing I noticed in this article was the number of draft picks who have not developed. Gene Smith liked to talk about getting base hits rather than home runs. Looks as though he struck out more times than not!
Also interesting is how Babin's brief presence had, as the article stated, a "ripple" effect. THAT is what happens when you have a quality player. Again, it just shows how low caliber the rest of the talent is.

I hope Khan does not fall for the injuries excuse running through the coach and player comments in this column and do nothing. Watch any other game and the announcers are talking about the various injuries that such and such team has had to deal with. Key injuries happen regularly to virtually every team. It should not lead to 2-13 and umpteen blowouts. This team is just deficient in talent and depth compared to other teams and Gene Smith should be accountable. That said, Mularkey has not exactly shown he is anything but a retread either. The second half performances have been atrocious for the most part. There are apparently no adjustments made to anything and we look like we were given tranquilizers in the locker room at the half.